‘Blood on his hands’: Anthony Albanese under fire after Bondi attack
Public sentiment is turning on Anthony Albanese, as critics blast his lack of action on anti-Semitism in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Anthony Albanese is under fire for failing to take tougher action on anti-Semitism as Israel warns Australian leaders have “blood on their hands”.
It is believed the attack is the deadliest targeting Jewish civilians since militant group Hamas massacred 1200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Overnight, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has compared the Bondi attack with the October massacre.
“Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of anti-Semitism,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“It encourages the Jew hatred now stalking your streets. anti-Semitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent, and you must replace weakness with action.
“Something terrible happened there today: cold-blooded murder.”
Speaking in Sydney, where he laid flowers at the Bondi Pavillon, Mr Albanese refused to be drawn on Israel’s criticism.
Mr Albanese said all Australians need to wrap our arms around Jewish Australians.
“So, we stand with them. We stand against anti-Semitism. We will do whatever is necessary to stamp it out.
“anti-Semitism is a scourge. It’s been around for a long period of time. We need to do whatever we can to stamp it out.”
Asked if a gun crackdown was required, like John Howard carried out after Port Arthur, Mr Albanese said all options were being considered.
“We will look at whatever is necessary, whatever comes out of this investigation. If there is any action required in terms of legislative response, we will certainly have it,” he said.
“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism.
“We as a nation are stronger than the cowards who did this.”
16 people are dead 40 are injured with shot beachgoers undergoing treatment and surgery in Sydney.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Sharran Haskel warned anti-Semitic sentiment “would end in blood”.
“For two years, Islamist extremists have openly targeted Jews in Australia – through hate marches, incitement, and intimidation – while the government has responded with weak statements instead of action,” he said.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the shooting was the result of “the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years”.
“The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses,” he wrote.
US Republican senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham said “you let your people down”.
“To every Western government who has recognised a Palestinian state, you’re rewarding killing Jews,” he told Fox News.
“It’s the most irresponsible decision I can imagine. What state are you recognising? Is it controlled by Hamas? What are you recognising here? When you kill Jews, you get a state? You’re going to get more killing of Jews.”
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry went further, claiming the “blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government”.
“This reckless policy has direct consequences at home within Australia itself,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The Australian government is doing everything in its power to ensure that Australian Jews cannot live safely, peacefully, and securely as Jews in their own country.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Alex Ryvchin said the community was “broken” and life will never “go back to normal”.
“This stops life, this destroys whole worlds, and things will always be different for us. Things can’t go back to normal. It’s fundamentally changed this country,” he said.
Independent MP Allegra Spender warned the government must do more to tackle anti-Semitism.
“I think we all feared that it might happen,” she said.
“I think that the government has made many missteps in relation to anti-Semitism. The government must do better, but we also need to understand what exactly happened.”
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, lashed Mr Albanese’s initial statement as “disgraceful” for failing to mention it was a terrorist attack.
“Hope he’s ashamed of anti-Semitic statements [of the] past year,” Mr Huckabee
said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon and UN Secretary-General António Guterres also offered their support to Australia.
Originally published as ‘Blood on his hands’: Anthony Albanese under fire after Bondi attack
